David and the Dwarf, Part 2

Today Chuck Swindoll on David and Goliath.

Goliath issue and three days later look back and say we shut it on such and such is called hindsight that is infallible when you look back you always know a better way. But at the time it happens, you start a shoot from the hip leisure David. David had the character. It took to see the present as though seeing, with hindsight, what a wise young man on intimidating things are often tested for their courage. Whether it's the sagging economy, the loss of a job. Perhaps a fractured relationship. These common issues cast a large shot of confidence today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll continues the message introduced yesterday based on a dramatic conflict that unfolds in first Samuel 17. It's a well-known story about a young warrior who face the biggest battle of his life need a new perspective on the giant facing you, we began in first Samuel 17 verse four Chuck titled his message David and the Goliath came forth. According to verse four down verse 10 including verse 16 and his size was so impressive that the writer pauses to tell us about that giant there was a champion.

Verse four were reading who came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath from Gath whose height was six cubits and a span he's a 9 feet nine. He has a helmet on his head. He has a coat of mail that ways perhaps almost 200 pounds much. Read on and the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam and the head of the spear weighed 600 shekels of iron. That's about 20 to 25 pounds just the head of the spear that he carried. Here is this massive giant web helmet with coat of mail leggings.

The spirit behind him in the spirit is hand notice something that the giant did.

He stood verse eight and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, why do you come out to drop in battle array. Am I not the full listing and use servants of Saul choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. He was suggesting what was commonly done in the Eastern world and that is a representative that I will represent the full listing host let your man represent the Israelis you send a representative. I will represent my army and whoever wins, so the Army wins and whoever loses the whole army will lose.

He was suggesting that they fight one-on-one, rather than one army against another reason why you bivouacked up there. There is no reason for you to be there, just send a fighter and I'll take him on. I am the champion I am the greatest verse nine.

If he is able to fight with me and kill me that we will become your servants but if I prevail against him and kill him. You shall become our servants and serve us one more verse again. The Philistines said I defied the ranks of Israel.

This day, give me a man that we may fight together now you think that happened only once, no. Look at verse 16 verse 16 says it went on 40 days the Philistine came forward, morning and evening, for 40 days and took a stand by the way you got giants in your life and they don't come just once they come morning and evening, day after day relentlessly coming to intimidate that come in the form of a person or the giant comes in the form of a pressure or a worry. Some fear that that hangs there and hammers on your heart every morning and every night, day in and day out, yelling across the ravine in your own personal valley of Giulia. Just like Goliath. The principal is still true. Few things are more persistent than our fears or worries.

Now let's notice on the other side a change in scene about 1015 miles away.

There was a little hamlet named Bethlehem and that Hamlet there lived a family.

The family of Jesse who had eight sons.

The youngest of whom was David, whom we have met in earlier evenings together and he is keeping his father's sheep. I believe that David knew very little of the battle probably had never once heard of Goliath, or if he had. It was only something ova about the scuttlebutt passed from one soldier to another, and finally wafted up on the hills of Judah and rang into David's ear. He'd never seen him.

He knew nothing of what was going on he was keeping his father. She of the scene changes to that quiet simple Hamlet in verse 12. David was the son of this Ifor Thiede of Bethlehem, whose name was Jesse. Verse 13 says the three older sons were in the Army of Saul, so there was some there was easily at the firstborn and a better dad the second and some of the third who were fighting and installs army. But David was too young.

He wasn't even 20 years of age. David was the youngest of three oldest followed Saul. David went back and forth from Saul to send this to to attend his father's flock at Bethlehem and the Philistine came forward, morning and evening, for 40 days and took a stand now. In the meantime, the father of Jesse became the father of the of the sons became concerned about the welfare of the boys in battle. He knew much of the battle. The boy was out tending the sheep.

He didn't know he probably could care less. At least if that's true, if you cared at all.

It's not revealed, but the father was concerned about the Ely Abbott and Shaw might've been a dab so he said he told Dave and I want you to run an errand for me.

Verse 17 take now for your brothers and e-file of this roasted grain in these 10 loaves and and run to the camp to your brothers and bring these 10 cuts of cheese to the commander of their files to take some quarter pounder with cheese and some large fries up to the battleground and David will start to give him some refreshments and he was to go to represent the love of the father to the boy seated every plans to fight. He was just going to go and bring in some refreshments bring him something to let her know that dad at home was concerned look into the welfare of your brothers and bring back the news no plans to fight. Remember that by the way, this morning rose just like any other morning in the life of David. That's the way it is in our life you face a Goliath and you don't even know it's coming until that morning.

It happens the 41st morning of Goliath's experience was the last day of his life and it was really the first day of David's heroic life. Nobody announced it no angel blasted a horn from heaven saying David this is your day he just rose up early, says verse 20, early in the morning and left the flock with the keeper and took the supplies and when is Dave has Jesse had commanded him and he came to the circle of the camp of the Army was going out in battle shopping the warcry so here's David must've been exciting. He came with the with the cheeseburgers and he was ready to take him over and to present to his brothers, and also there was this warcry verse 21 Israel and the Philistines grew up in battle array army against Army. We was watching this happen.

David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper and ran to the battle line and entered in PE entered in order to greet his brothers and as he was talking with them. This is neat. Behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath, Goliath was coming up from the Army of the Philistines, and he spoke the same words and David heard that he's never heard that before talking to Bob.

You know standing there talking to shop. I miss talking to been a dab and and and all of a sudden he hears a loud bill from across the ravine and there's no coming up is never seen Goliath.

Here's David standing there and all of a sudden he's alone. That's what I see in verse 26 as he was talking with them. The champion came and spoke those words.

Verse 24 and when all the men of Israel saw the man they fled, for they were afraid. Here's David talking all of a sudden is all well looks over there any look sadly sees this giant of a guy coming down shouting out these define words and cursing the God of Israel, and I made a man to talk like that about the God of Israel, is anybody running. Remember now this this the 40th time you read the story, but this the first time this happened to David.

He's never heard of this before and he's standing there experiencing it is interesting how hindsight gives lot insight ever had a Goliath face you in three days later look back and say how we got it done such and such is called hindsight and it's all it's it's infallible when you look back you always know a better way. But at the time it happens, you start a shoot from the hip, unless you're David. David had the character.

It took to see the present as though seeing, with hindsight lies young man on intimidated by my impressed with David. What he does beautiful verse 26. David spoke to the man who were standing by saying what we done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel what happened is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should top the armies of the living God. The people answered with with one accord with this word. Thus, it will be done for the man who kills it. By the way we missed what would be done on purpose. I want you to see that Saul had an incentive plan for killing the giant. The reason he did is because the one who qualified in the camp of Israel to fight Goliath was Saul member.

He's the one this head and shoulders above everybody else.

He's the one that really ought to be out there fighting Goliath and being a coward because he is not walking with God. He worked on an incentive plan that would get somebody else out in the battle.

Look at what it is.

Verse 25. It will beats in the middle of verse and it will be that the king that Saul will enrich the man who kills Goliath with great riches. First of all did make him rich and he will give him his daughter later on will meet his daughter. You can understand why you want to give her as soon as he could name is Micah. What a drag so he would make him rich and give him his daughter and third and make his father's house free and Israel. No taxes the best of the three Megan Rich could plug in with his daughter. And third, it given the taxes the take away all the tax from and so he said this is David. Listen to this incentive all sorts of external or extrinsic motivation that just passed right over David's ears and David's head. He was concerned intrinsically with the name of God that was being blasphemed. Who is this creature, I don't care how tall he is, that thinks he can speak of God in those terms. By the way, I don't know if you got this. It takes a little bit of concentration but I was looking at the the words in verse eight in verse 25 only show you something you maybe haven't seen before verse eight he stood that's Goliath and Shen shouted to the ranks of Israel and said why do you come out to draw up in battle array. Am I not the Philistine, and you servants of Saul choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. Okay, let him come down that slope and will meet at the ravine in 40 days time.

Look at verse 25. Have you seen this man who is coming up that dummy is come across the ravine that is coming up Israel side now keeps coming up is on Israel territory. David says what's he doing on our side is made you see in 40 days time.

If you tolerate a Goliath you take over your territory. He'll move in your camp heel. In fact taking your thoughts that normally only be on God and you put them on himself. You can't tolerate a Goliath, you kill the Giants, David Cicero, who is this fellow now it I don't know if you had this experience but most Christians do when they go through a time of standing by faith they will get flack often from members of their own family.

Look at verse 28 it's what I call the older brother syndrome.

The older brother syndrome usually add his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the man and Ely ab's anger burned against David by the way, don't forget who Iliad really is. He's the one who first walked into the house and Samuel said that's the king. Remember chapter 16 and in God's put his hand on Simon's shoulders and that's not the one and little later on. Ely ab was standing there when the horn of oil was emptied on the head of David and the older brother saw the younger brother chosen to be the king. Maybe you haven't had it happen in your home but I've seen it happen in homes for the younger gets blessed above the older awfully hard for the older to handle it is hey is your younger brother, or your younger sister used in a greater way than you bother with use of the problem are you applauding God saying thank you Lord for lifting up your name through the life of my brother, my sister is that hard for the older to share the glory Ely ab saw David remember that he had been anointed and he got his strokes in he said to David how, why have you come down the Berkeley says, why have you really, what is that it's an attack on his motive. Look, David, why have you really showed up here and then he asked the second question which was designed to humiliate David, you said that and with whom. Have you left those few sheep in the wilderness get the slam. David you know you're the shepherd boy where did you leave those 5C just sort of an just a little subtle jab twisting the knife you keep the few sheep I know your insolence in the wickedness of your heart is an interesting how a person who is guilty of the very things will call those things in the life of somebody else who had the insolent wicked heart. The one calling the shots Iliad, the older brother I know where you're coming from. He said you've come down in order to see the battle there's little question in the Hebrew text as to whether it might say you have come down to be seen in the battle or my impressed with David average person would've rolled up his sleeves and use all his energy, you know punch at his brother's lights out rather than dealing with Goliath.

David just ignores as if to say that what he says is is what I've done now was not just a question let's go on to bigger things and he walks right away. By the way, we got to know who to fight to leave alone. You can find all day long. If you want to and you never will get outside the ranks of the Christians. If you don't watch it all. Your battles will be in the realm of the family of God. You got enough Christians to give you enough slack to have all your energy used up right inside the circle and the enemy just waxes eloquent outside winning victory after victory. I appreciated Pete Gilchrist book that was written some time ago. Let's stop fighting about the Holy Spirit.

Let's stop fighting with one another.

Let's fight the real enemy, and he lived like a giant.

He roams the prairie of our territory were spinning our wheels spinning our wheels and spending our energy on our own kind. David said just a question let's go on. So Saul calls a man this a beautiful scene. The scene changes from Ely ab and David to Saul and David look at it verse 31 member of Saul's legato don't want to fight but he won't admit it is a phony, but just on how to declare it. So when the words of David over told Saul he sent for him and David said to Saul that no man's heart fail account of him, your servant would go and fight with this Philistine.

Saul said to David, you're not able to go against this Philistine to fight with them your body you while he's been a warrior from his youth.

Remember 16 seven God is not impressed with the externals. He looks on the heart man is impressed with the externals. He doesn't see the heart. Saul looked at Dave and said you have the size for it.

Just a little tight.

Look at that giant magic about now.

David was blinking and thinking what giant the only giant in my life is God. That's a dwarf over there. Saul got dozen fight on the basis of size and intelligence God is omnipotent and if he's on my side omnipotent can't lose. Saul had learned that you're not able to go up against the Philistine and then he describes how in the past God proved himself faithful when he slid this bear. In this lien and he says in verse 37 the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from this Philistine.

By the way, we forget what we ought to remember and we remember what we ought to forget. We remember our defeats and we forget the victories.

Most people to give you the book chapter and verse in vivid detail of the failures of their lives, but it's worth hard-pressed to name the same specific way remarkable victories that God is pulled off.

David says you know why I can fight that to that giant salt.

The God who gave me power over a lion on a bare wood give me power over that that giant hey just just let me heading on intimidated and look at this carnal Christian verse 2037, who answers go and may the Lord be with you brother may God bless you. You know how it is remarkable how carnal Christians use a lot of spiritual clich�s to cover up their empty life and all the verses, the know all the sayings soon or I'm not going to go out there and fight. I think just pass right over David's head. He was already to go and salsa.

No, wait a minute David. We gotta fix you up for bad tell me the Bible doesn't have humor. You're about ready to see some of it. Look at verse 38 Saul clothed David with his garments here Saul of 52 long.

David is a 36 regular and Saul brings in this are huge amount of, you know all this stuff and he says put it on David verse 38 it says 38 says that he he put his bronze helmet on his head cloak he clothed him with his armor, David girded his sword over his armor get to see David that sort is so big you can't even hold a thing on it and look at what it says and 39 David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk and David says slow I keep I like this since I can't go with these. I haven't tested them. David took a moment to be in a what what works for you will not necessarily work for someone else. Stop trying to fit the specific clothing that works for you on someone else got dozen operate like that D provides unique principles and techniques for unique people. That's why you are advice is not necessarily what that other person needs because you know that other person, what works for you works for you because you are like you are that other person isn't like you. There's only one you Chuck Swindoll has re-created this dramatic showdown between the ill-suited shepherd boy and his adversary, the Philistine giant and be sure you join us again tomorrow when inside for living features.

The conclusion to Chuck's message but don't rush away because we set aside time to hear closing comments from Chuck coming up in just a moment to learn more about this ministry.

Be sure to visit us online@insideworld.org. If you're looking to explore the life of David on a deeper level, let me point you to the biography the Chuck Road it's called David a man of passion and destiny.

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Thanks, Chuck Pierce, how to respond if you prefer to call us and you're listening in the United States, call 800-772-8888 or you can give online@insight.org/my urging you to join us. When Chuck Swindoll concludes his important message about David and Goliath tomorrow on insight for living in the preceding message David and the door was copyrighted in 1977, 1988, 1997 and 2009 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2009 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited